Members Competition 2022. Entries by midnight 23rd April. Anonymous independent judging, prize £50 photo materials voucher. Any pinhole process (sieve, zone plate, solargraph, camera obscura photo etc.) made between 24th April 2021 and April 23rd 2022. Submit one entry per person by email. (Digital file 1800px max side preferred ). Winner announced on pinhole day. In the event that any of the organisers photos are selected – the prize will go to runner up.
On Sunday the 24th of April we will celebrate the simplicity of camera vision with a photowalk and lunch. Join us on the day – All welcome!
11am Meet at East Gate of the Botanics
1pm Lunch (to be booked – possibly The Orchard – rsvp for place)
6pm Wrap Up – online. Competition winners will be announced.
Popularised by George Eastman, flexible film revolutionised and democratised photography in 1888 from the the cumbersome and technically complex plate processes. In 1900 the first version of the Brownie camera sold 100,000 and this portable and economical camera and spool film meant photography was available to the masses. The snapshot age was here.
Designed by Frank Brownell, he named the camera after the household spirit in Scottish folklore – brownies or broonies (Scots) – these mischievous spirits are said to come out at night while the owners of the house are asleep and perform various chores. Making images was no longer the photographers chore.
This patent for the Brownie camera shows how the new spool film would be used.
In October 1901 the Brownie No.2 camera was released using a new size of film – 120. (The first version of the Brownie had used a similar but different spool – 117.)
Still widely used today 120 is the only medium format film to survive in the digital age – hopefully it will still be here in another 120 years time!
Share your favourite 120 photo with us in the comments.
And of course meeting people and seeing people’s actual physical photographic prints at the Botanics made for a great end to the month!
Our July meetings are as follows:
11th – Collodion Club
13th – 2nd Tuesday of the Month – Evening Meet from 6:30pm (BST)- Virtual, please email or DM for details.
25th – Last Sunday of the Month – Summer Photowalk from 11am (Meet at Cramond Brig) – Cammo Estate and Almond River. Please email to indicate if you would like a lunch reservation or for car pool (regulations on date permitting). LRT bus 43 stops nearby.
28th – Last Wednesday of the Month – Coffee Morning from 10:30am – Outside Cafe at Saughton Gardens. LRT buses – 1, 2, 22, 30, 38 – stop nearby. Bring along an exposed film – lets swap!
As the restrictions are loosened and the weather has improved we have some in person meetings planned.
Last Wednesdays of the Month
The next 4 Last Wednesday morning meeting will now take place outside –
June 30th
Botanics. We will meet at the coffee cart by Inverleith House (Terrace Cafe) from 10:30am. To visit the gardens you need to book a free time slot ticket for the day/time via Eventbrite -> HERE
July 28th
Saughton Park. We will meet by the cafe from 10:30am
August 25th
Saughton Park. We will meet by the cafe from 10:30am
September 29th
Botanics. We will meet at the coffee cart by Inverleith House (Terrace Cafe) from 10:30am. To visit the gardens you need to book a free time slot ticket for the day/time via Eventbrite -> HERE
For October and November we will meet at the Cafe at the Printmakers (Fountainbridge/Lemington) from 10:30am – they have both indoor and outdoor space.
Summer Sunday Photowalks
Photowalks are planned for the following dates, meeting at 11:00am (last Sunday of each month.)
July 25th – Cammo Estate and Crammond Brig
August 29th – Loch Leven
September 26th – South Queensferry
In the unlikely event our numbers are greater than government guidelines we will split into 2 or more separate groups. Social distancing should be maintained at all times. Please bring masks, hand sanitiser and follow any other rules in force at the date of the meeting.
If you are running late please text or DM for the groups location. Limited carpooling in accordance with guidelines is available – email if you need a lift.
The 2nd Tuesday monthly evening meetings will remain ONLINE.
New content in the members area (feel free to email any other additions for site or blog) and discussion of adding a shop to the website and what the mechanics of that should be.
June’s meetings will be online from 6:30pm (BST) Tuesday the 8th and in person outdoors at the Botanical Gardens Edinburgh (restrictions permitting) on Wednesday the 30th from 10:30am (BST). Send us an email or DM on Social Media to get added to our virtual calls, more information on summer in person meetings and photowalks will be finalised soon.